Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-30

CITY AND DISTRICT.
OFFICE-HOLDERs IN POLITICS.
| Commissioners Oberly,s Letter to the
Illinois Democratic Association.
| GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN THE CLASSIFIED CIVIL
SERVICE MUST NOT BE ACTIVE PARTIsANS.
At meeting last night of the Illinois Democratic
Association the letter referred to in yesterdays
STAR from Civ1l-Serv1ce Commissioner Oberly, de-
Ginning an Invitation to address the association
| and taking the ground that the law forbids such
| associations so far as employees of the Govern
ment are concerned, was read. The text OF the
| letter is as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept %, 1887.
DEAR SIR: have come to the conclusion that
cannot accept the invitation OF the Illinois Demo-
cratic Association courteOusly rendered to me by
you as committee Of that body without violat-
| ing official obligation.
The Commission holds that entrance tn and con-
tlnuance IN that part OF the executive civil service
known as the classified civil service should be up
regard to his political Opinions or Affiliations This
posltion Is Justified by many considerations, all OF
which lead 1rresisttbly to the conclusion that the
civil service act OF 1883 was enacted for the pur
pose OF providing a nOn-partiSan service. 1t fol-
lows therefore, that this law should be executed
in strictly nOn-partisan manner, and from this
proposition logically follows the Conclusion that
no officer charged with its execution can be effect
i've In the discharge OF that duty II by active par
tlc1patlon In party politics he destroys the conf-
dence OF the public In his fairness and impartality
A Clv1l-Service Commissioner civ1l-Service ex-
amlner, as member OF a political committee, or
as member, patron, or encOurager OF political
association composed of persons in the public
service, all members of one political party, organ
lied for the purpose Of putting certain political
partisans into and Of excluding certain other po-
litical parttsans from Office, would certainly be
out OF place, and the public would be justified In
In ah0r or iS iat
| duties, he might bear unfairly against political
opponents and lean partially toward party friends
| AN OFFICE-HOLDER NEED NOT SURRENDER HIS INTER-
EST IN POLITICS.
The Commission has expressed the opinion that
republican in the public service has the right to
entertain strong political views and to give, at
the proper time. strong expressions to those views
In this connection the Commission has said: 1.-The
occupies place in the classified civil service he
must therefore surrender his right to take an in
terest In the politics Of the country. No good cit
zen will do so; and no degree OF activity In effort
to advance the interest OF the party opposed to the
Administration should, provided his partisan ac-
tlv1ty IN no way 1nterferes with his public duties
render Insecure in the service OF the Government
| the position OF any person who does not occupy q
place. the discharge OF the duties OF which affects
pubic SERVICE"
BUT EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE CANNOT ACT
IN THE PARTISAN ASSOCIATIONS.
This position may be perverted into an ap-
pearance OF Inconsistency With the position that
| the Illinois Democratic Association may not with
propr1ety be patronized or encouraged; it may be
held that there can be no legal other good OBJ
lection that can be urged against the policy OF
democrats in the public service organizing, as
you nave done, for the purpose OF being active In
enort TO promote the interest OF the Administra-
uon IN other words, 1t may be said that there is
an unwllingness on my part to give to the demo-
cratic ofnceh-Older the same partisan privileges
otfceholder A candid consideration OF the Illinois
democratic Association in the light shed upon 1t by
several sections OF the civil-servce act viii, how
ever, snow you that my objection TO such associa-
TONS to partisan associations OF Office holders,
based upon strong foundation, which no partisan
sophlstry can destroy or even weaken.
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
Section II OF the civil-service act provides that
no executive of1icer, and no clerk or employe Of
any department. branch or bureau Of the execu-
tive service SHALL directly or indirectly solicit or
receive or be in any manner concerned In solicit
ing or receiving, any subscription contribution
GER clerk or empfoye OF any department, branch
or bureau thereof, or from any person receiving
any salary or compensation from moneys derived
from the Treasury OF the United States. Section
IA OF the same act provides that officer clerk
or other person in the service OF the United States
SHALL directly or indirectly. give or hand over to
any other officer. clerk or person in the service of
the United states, any money or other valuable
thing on account OF or to be applied to the promo
tOn OF any political object whatever. And section
lo OF the act provides that any person guilty OF
any Of these OnenSes shall, on conviction thereof
NC puulSueu Dy a uQe not exceeding $1,000, or by
imprisonment for a term not exceeding three
years, or by such fine and Imprisonment both, in
the discretion OF the court.
WHAT CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
Now, does it not follow that officers clerks and
other persons In the service OF the United States
who are organized for political purposes, and who
by initiation fees, dues and contributions defray
the expenses OF this organization are violating
sections IL and IA OF the civil-service act7 They
are giving-they are handing Over-tO officers,
N Typ,fta OFT
States, and these persons acting as officers OF the
association, as the representatives OF the asso-
service of the United States, are receiving money
for political purposes, money to be applied to the
| promotion OF political objects
| THE ACT APPLAUDED BY DEMOCRATS UNDER RE-
PUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION.
1t should not he forgotten that the provisions Of
the civtl-service act to which have referred and
other similar provisions OF that act, were passed
while the republican party was in power and
When by pervert1ng tnStrumentalitteS, the repub-
licans were using the public service for partisan
purposes; when the republican party was filling
the civil service with men and women, not because
they would be efficient public servants but for the
in advancing the political fortune Of some member
| OF that party; when, having thus appointed men
| and women for partisan reasons only, the repub-
| l1can party then robbed them by assessments and
by solicitations accompanied by open or limited
| threats or dismisSal-wheD, for the purpose OF
making its frequent attempts at this kind OF rob-
associations and used them in taking from the
purses OF Its victims money that was needed in
| the support and education OF families dependent
upon the persons who were compelled to heed the
partisan demand to "Stand and deliver" 1t should
not be forgotten by democrats that the penal sec
tons OF the c1vt-Servtce act were aimed at this
| system Of robbery by assessment and solicitation,
and at all the lnstrumentallties by which that
system was made effective. Democrats applauded
| the enactment OF those provisions and cOngratu-
lated themselves upon the probability that they
would destroy the mallgn influences OF the repub
afQd of NoChfn